Effects of bark flour of Passiflora edulis on food intake, body weight and behavioral response of rats

ABSTRACT Effects of treatment with the bark flour of Passiflora edulis Sims, Passifloraceae, were evaluated. Adult male Wistar rats were treated for 30 days (130 mg/kg, p.o.) with the albedo flour, flavedo and full bark of P. edulis, corresponding to albedo associated with flavedo. Behavioral response observed after treatment with bark flour P. edulis showed sedative effects by the reduction of exploratory activity and increased duration of immobility in the open field test for the group of animals that received the albedo flour associated with the flavedo. Sedative effects were observed in the absence of motor incoordination or muscle relaxation. Food intake of experimental animals was not changed, but the weight gain was decreased both in animals that received only albedo flour, and in those who received the full bark flour. The full bark flour of Passiflora showed sedative effects, without anxiolytic effect detectable and muscle relaxation or motor incoordination, and reduces body weight gain.

Supplementation with Watermelon Extract Reduces Total Cholesterol and LDL Cholesterol in Adults with Dyslipidemia under the Influence of the MTHFR C677T Polymorphism.

Dyslipidemia and genetic polymorphisms are associated with increased risk for developing cardiovascular diseases, and watermelon appears to have the potential to improve hyperlipidemia due to the presence of nutrients such as arginine and citrulline. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypolipidemic effect of watermelon extract (Citrullus lanatus) and the influence of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase genotype (MTHFR C677T) on supplementation response. METHODS: This is an experimental clinical phase II randomized and double-blind study. Forty-three subjects with dyslipidemia were randomly divided into 2 groups: experimental (n = 22) and control (n = 21) groups. The subjects were supplemented daily for 42 days with 6 g of watermelon extract or a mixture of carbohydrates (sucrose/glucose/fructose). RESULTS: The use of watermelon extract reduced plasma total cholesterol (p < 0.05) and low-density lipoprotein (p < 0.01) without modifying triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, and very low-density lipoprotein values. Only carriers of the T allele (MTHFR C677T) showed decreasing concentrations of low-density lipoprotein (p < 0.01). No changes in anthropometric parameters analyzed were observed. This is the first study to demonstrate the beneficial effect of the consumption of watermelon extract in reducing plasma levels of lipids in humans. The MTHFR C677T polymorphism did not affect the plasma lipid concentration but made individuals more responsive to treatment with watermelon. CONCLUSIONS: The consumption of this functional food represents an alternative therapy in the combined treatment of patients with dyslipidemia, promoting health and minimizing the development of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.

High frequency of serum chromium deficiency and association of chromium with triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations in patients awaiting bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: To our knowledge, the frequency of serum chromium deficiency in patients awaiting bariatric surgery has not been determined. This study was designed to assess chromium concentration and its association with glycemic levels and lipid profile in patients prior to bariatric surgery. METHODS: This study recruited 73 candidates for bariatric surgery between March and September 2012. Their sociodemographic, anthropometric, and biochemical data were collected. RESULTS: Of the 73 patients, 55 (75.3%) were women (75.34%). Mean patient age was 37.20 ± 9.92 years, and mean body mass index was 47.48 kg/m2 (range, 43.59 to 52.50 kg/m2). Chromium deficiency was observed in 64 patients (87.7%). Correlation analysis showed significant negative relationships between chromium concentration and BMI and zinc concentration and a significant positive relationship between chromium and glycated hemoglobin. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that serum chromium concentration was significantly associated with total cholesterol (ß = 0.171, p = 0.048) and triglyceride (ß = -0.181, p = 0.039) concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Serum chromium deficiency is frequent in candidates for bariatric surgery and is associated with total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. Early nutritional interventions are needed to reduce nutritional deficiencies and improve the lipid profile of these patients.

Relationship between hemoglobin, serum retinol and habitual meat consumption in the elderly: a population-based study.

Considering the scarcity of data on the relationship between hemoglobin, serum retinol and habitual meat consumption in the elderly, a cross-sectional population-based study was performed, which was representative of the population of a state capital in Northeastern Brazil, including 176 elderly aged between 60 and 90 years, who responded to questionnaires about habitual food consumption and socioeconomic aspects. Blood counts and serum retinol analyses were carried out. The prevalence of anemia was 9.58%, and 96% of elderly showing adequate serum retinol levels. The consumption of vitamin A and iron was adequate in 93.75% and 85%, respectively. There was no correlation between serum retinol and hemoglobin values (p=0.56), and as expected, there was a positive association between meat consumption and hemoglobin (p=0.02). Based on results obtained in this study, it was concluded that the maintenance of adequate vitamin A and meat intake in this population should be encouraged, which appears to be an effective intervention strategy to achieve appropriate serum retinol and hemoglobin values, and hence lower iron deficiency anemia rates.

Relation between glucose levels, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), body mass index (BMI) and serum and dietary retinol in elderly in population-based study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between fasting glucose levels, hs-CRP, BMI and serum retinol and diet in elderly people. For this study, a cross-sectional, epidemiological, population-based format was adopted. One hundred and sixty-three individuals between 60 and 90 years of age participated; the participants were from different socioeconomic and health backgrounds, except for the individuals diagnosed with diabetes. Most subjects had serum concentrations in the reference ranges for all variables. There was not a significant relationship between fasting glucose and serum retinol or diet. There was a significant correlation between hs-CRP and BMI (r=0.22, p=0.0082) and hs-CRP and total calorie intake (p=0.0091), which reinforces the notion that an increased intake of calories results in being overweight and/or obese. Considering the importance of vitamin A in various physiological processes, more studies on these relationships are necessary to establish a recommendation of vitamin A for the treatment and prevention of changes in fasting glucose and obesity in the elderly population.

Avaliação da toxicidade aguda, efeitos citotóxico e espasmolítico de Pomacea lineata (Spix, 1827) (Mollusca, Caenogastropoda) / Evaluation of the acute toxicity, cytotoxic and spasmolytic effects of Pomacea lineata (Spix, 1827) (Mollusca, Caenogastropoda)

Pomacea sp. e sua desova têm uso popular para tratar diarréia e doenças respiratórias. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar a toxicidade aguda e os efeitos citotóxico e espasmolítico dos liófilos de Pomacea lineata e de sua desova. Os liófilos não apresentaram toxicidade aguda (até 2 g/kg v.o.) ou efeito citotóxico (até 1 mg/mL). P. lineata relaxou a traquéia pré-contraída com CCh na presença (Emax = 48,8 ± 6,4 por cento) e na ausência (Emax = 47,3 ± 9,1 por cento) de epitélio, já a desova relaxou apenas na presença (Emax = 36,3 ± 2,5 por cento) de epitélio. Os liófilos foram ineficazes sobre o tônus espontâneo da traquéia. P. lineata foi mais potente em inibir as contrações do íleo induzidas por ACh (logCI50 = 2,5 ± 0,04 µg/mL) que por hist. (logCI50 = 2,7 ± 0,04 µg/mL). A desova inibiu igualmente as contrações induzidas por ACh (logCI50 = 2,5 ± 0,02 µg/mL) e hist. (logCI50 = 2,5 ± 0,06 µg/mL). P. lineata foi mais potente em relaxar o íleo pré-contraído com ACh (logCE50 = 1,7 ± 0,12 µg/mL) do que com KCl (logCE50 = 2,4 ± 0,06 µg/mL) ou hist. (logCE50 = 2,2 ± 0,18 µg/mL). A desova relaxou equipotentemente o íleo pré-contraído com KCl (logCE50 = 2,3 ± 0,15 µg/mL), ACh (logCE50 = 1,9 ± 0,14 µg/mL) ou hist. (logCE50 = 2,2 ± 0,16 µg/mL), sugerindo um bloqueio dos CaV. P. lineata e sua desova apresentam efeito espasmolítico justificando a sua utilização no tratamento de diarréia e de doenças respiratórias.

Pomacea sp. and its eggs are used against diarrhea and respiratory diseases in folk medicine. The aim of this study was to investigate acute toxicity, cytotoxic and spasmolytic activity of lyophilized Pomacea lineata and its eggs. P. lineata and its eggs present no acute toxicity (until 2 g/kg p.o.) or cytotoxic effect (until 1 mg/mL). P. lineata and its eggs have no effect on guinea-pig trachea spontaneous tonus. P. lineata relaxed trachea pre-contracted with CCh in the presence (Emax = 48.8 ± 6,4 percent) and absence (Emax = 47.3 ± 9,1 percent) of epithelium, the eggs relaxed only in the presence (Emax = 36.3 ± 2.5 percent) P. lineata was more potent to inhibit contractions induced by ACh (logIC50 = 2.5 ± 0.04 µg/mL) than histamine (logIC50 = 2.7 ± 0.04 µg/mL). The eggs inhibited contractions induced by ACh (logIC50 = 2.5 ± 0.02 µg/mL) and histamine (logIC50 = 2.5 ± 0.06 µg/mL) in a non-selective manner. P. lineata was more potent in relax ileum pre-contracted with ACh (logEC50 = 1.7 ± 0.12 µg/mL) than KCl (logEC50 = 2.4 ± 0.06 µg/mL) or histamine (logEC50 = 2.2 ± 0.18 µg/mL). The eggs were equipotent in relax ileum pre-contracted with of KCl (logEC50 = 2.3 ± 0.15 µg/mL), ACh (logEC50 = 1.9 ± 0.14 µg/mL) or histamine (logEC50 = 2.2 ± 0.16 µg/mL), that is suggestive of the blockade of the voltage-operated calcium channels. Collectively, the results validate folk use of P. lineata and its eggs to treat diarrhea and respiratory diseases.

Cartografia do retardo estatural em escolares do Estado da Paraíba, Brasil / Schoolchildren statural deficit cartography in Paraíba State, Brazil

Objetivo: Parte de um projeto promovido pelas Naçöes Unidas (FAO) e pelo Ministério da Educaçäo do Brasil (Fundaçäo de Assistência ao Escolar) para estudar a condiçäo nutricional de alunos de educandários públicos, visa a avaliar, com um enfoque cartográfico, a magnitude e a distribuiçäo espacial do déficit estatural de alunos de escolas públicas do Estado da Paraíba. Métodos: Fez-se levantamento de caráter censitário da estatura de 50.144 escolares com idade de 6 a 9 anos, matriculados na primeira série do primeiro grau de todos os municípios do Estado da Paraíba, considerando-se como déficit estatural os valores classificados abaixo de -2 "scores" z do padräo do National Center of Health Statistics. Resultados: Em todo o Estado, 14,5 por cento dos escolares foram considerados casos de nanismo, com uma distribuiçäo heterogênea para as quatro mesorregiöes fisiográficas estudadas: 18,7 por cento no Sertäo, 13,8 por cento no Agreste, 11,9 por cento na Borborema e 10,9 por cento na Zona da Mata. Nas escolas da área rural, 17,8 por cento dos alunos apresentavam déficit estatural, enquanto no meio urbano a prevalência de nanismo foi de 11,8 por cento. Conclusöes: Os dados encontrados säo indicativos de um processo de interiorizaçäo da desnutriçäo, contrastando substancialmente com as descriçöes históricas sobre a cartografia do problema na regiäo